Electric lantern



July 31,1945. :EDRUMM 2,380,636-

ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed May 2'7, 1945 Il'lVEl'l'tEll" E.E.Urumm PatentedJuly 31, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LANTERN Elmer E.Drumm, Manitowoc, Wis. Application May 27, 1943, Serial No. 488,641

1 Claim.

This invention pertains to electrical lanterns,-

and more particularly to a lantern of the adiustable ray type.

The invention has primarily for its object to improve lanterns of theforegoing type, by the provision of a comparatively simple, andcomparatively inexpensive structure, in which a djustment of the lightrays is quickly and easily effected by a rotatable mechanism.

Incidental to the foregoing. a more specific object is to providerelative longitudinal movement between the reflector and the bulb socketby means of a rotatable inclined plane connection between the two.

A still further object resides in rotatably mounting the ,refiector onthe lantern casing which carries the light socket, and providing aninclined plane connection between the reflector and casing for impartinglongitudinal movement to the reflector upon partial rotation of thesame.

Another object resides in attaching the lens to the movable reflector,which extends over the end of the casing, and limiting the rotatablemovement'of the reflector to less than of a turn.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,

combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the present invention constructed according tothe best mode so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a lantern incorporating the presentinvention, parts being broken away and in section, the latter beingindicated by the line l-i of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2. of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numerali designates generally a casing, which houses a conventional dry cellbattery, indicated in dotted lines, and which carries other elementsincluded in the device, as hereinafter explained.

The casing l consists of a cylindrical shell 2, open at its upper endand provided with a removable cover 3, to which a leaf spring 4 isattached for exerting pressure upon the battery, to urge its terminalsinto engagement with a light bulb socket contact and the bottom 5 of theshell, as hereinafter described.

Mounted in the bottom 5 of the shell is a socket 6 for reception of theusual light bulb I. The socket 6 is insulated from the bottom of theshell by fiber or com osition discs 8, disposed upon its opposite sides,while a contact 9 secured to the socket projects through the discs forengagement with the central spring terminal ID of the battery groundedto the shell by an outer spring terminal ID, as indicated in dottedlines in Figure l.

Mounted upon the lower face of the bottom 5, and secured thereto byscrews H, or other suitable fastening means, is a flanged ring l2, theperipheral wall of which is provided with a plurality of inclinedangular slots l3, preferably three in number, and evenly spaced aboutthe periphery of the ring.

While the shell and ring have been illustrated and described as separateelements suitably connected, it is to be understood that the same may beformed integrally without departing from the invention, and if desired,the ring may be entirely eliminated, and the inclined slots l3 formeddirectly in the peripheral wall of the shell 2, without affecting theinvention.

Rotatably mounted upon the lower end of the shell 2, and the ring i2, isa cup 14 provided with a circular concave depression forming a reflectorl5, having a central opening 16 surrounding the socket 5, and throughwhich the light bulb 1 projects. Secured to the skirt of the cup l4 andprojecting inwardly, are a plurality of studs or projections II. whichextend into the inclined slots [3. Obviously upon manual rotation of thecup l4, the slot and pin connections between the cup I4, and ring if,will cause the reflector to be longitudinallyshifted on the casing withrelation to the light bulb, thereby effecting the character of the lightrays to provide either a diffused or concentrated beam of light, theslots serving as inclined planes, and also limiting rotary movement ofthe cup to less than 5 of a turn where three slots are employed. whichis the least preferredv number for eliminating bind between the cup andeasing.

Positioned upon an outer end of the cup I4 is a asket i4 upon which adomed lens i8 is seated. A channeled ring 20 serves to lock the lens isagainst the gasket H to insure a tight seal for the reflector and bulbcompartment.

The locking ring 20 comprises upper and lower flanges i8 and 18',respectively. The upper flange I8 surrounds the cup I4 and engagesspaced studs 2! carried by the cup, while the lower flange 18' engagesand clamps the lens i9 upon the gasket For assembly of the lens and ringon the cup, the upper flange i8 the ring is provided with spaced notches38 to permit passage of the ring over the studs 2|, after which the ringis rotated to its locked position shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

In order to close the circuit between the battery and bulb socket 6, acontact finger 22 is connected to the base of the socket and projectsradially to a point closely adjacent the periphery of the ring l2.

Mounted upon the peripheral wall or the shell 2, for reciprocallongitudinal movement is a manually operable circuit closing mechanism23. which comprises a contact strip 24, the lower end or which projectsthrough an opening in the bottom of the shell, and terminates in anofiset lip 24' in longitudinal alinement with the end of the contactfinger 22. Obviously, as the contact 24 is longitudinally shifted in onedirection, it will engage the finger 22 to ground the battery circuitpassing through the lamp socket to the shell for illumination of thebulb.

A crimped ofl'set 25 formed in the contact 24, normally extends into anannular depression 26 formed in the interior of shell, to releasablylatch the contact in its open position, while the spring tension createdbetween the contact and shell, when the crimp is moved out of thedepression, serves to hold the contact in closed position.

For manipulaing the contact 24, a channel plate 21 straddles the end 01the contact and carries a stud "passing through the contact, and a flatplate 30 mounted in a longitudinal depression 3| formed in the wall oithe casing. A knurled nut 32 threaded upon the outer end or the stud 28to serve as a manipulating button, and also looks the assembly together.The outer end of the stud is slightly upset to prevent undesireddetachment of the nut.

While a specific structure of switch or circuit closer has been shownand described, it is to be understood that any shiftable circuit closingmechanism may be employed without departing from the invention, thepresent form of switch being the subject matter of a companionapplication Serial No. 488,642 filed with the present case.

Pivotally secured to the peripheral wall of the shell 2-, is a bail orhandle 33, together with. a guard ring.34, the arms 35 of which aremounted upon the pintles 36 that carry the handle 33, thus permittingrelative adjustment of the casing with relation to both the handle andguard ring, to project the light rays at any desired angle, it beingunderstood that the ring 34 serves not only as a guard, but in someinstances as a base or support for the lantern.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it will be apparent that a comparatively simple,inexpensive and emcient electric lantern has been provided, in which thecharacter of the light rays can be quickly adjusted by slight rotationof the reflector cup upon the casing, the inclined plane connectionsbetween the cup and easing serving to longitudinally shift the reflectorwith relation to the light bulb.

Inasmuch as the lens is carried by the reflector, which extends over theouter periphery of the casing, possible entrance of dirt or otherdeleterious material into either the casing or lamp compartment isentirely eliminated.

As previously stated, it is preferred to employ only three inclinedslots for the longitudinal adjustment of the reflector, inasmuch as thesame reduces bind between the reflector and casing to a minimum, andnaturally required less than /:i of a turn of the reflector to effectdesired adjustment.

I claim:

In an electric lantern, a casing for receiving a dry-cell battery, 9.light bulb socket carried by said casing, a one-piece reflector cuphaving a skirt extending over and snugly surrounding the end of thecasing, said casing being provided with spaced inclined slots in itsperipheral wall, projections carried by said skirt and extending intosaid slots for imparting axial movement to said cup upon rotation of thesame, a lens mounted on the face of said cup, a sealing gasket disposedbetween said lens and cup, spaced radial studs secured to the peripheryof said reflector cup, and a locking ring mounted on said cup forcompressing the lens on said gasket, said ring having upper and lowerflanges for engaging said studs and lens respectively, the upper flangeof said ring being notched to permit the passage of said ring over saidstuds.

ELMER E. DRUMM.

